Why should you think twice before buying it?

It is becoming more and more common to hear the term “fast fashion”, but what does it mean, and why is it such an important topic? In this time of discounts, it is essential to know what we buy to choose consciously and intelligently. And since clothes are a necessary element in our social context, here we explain why you should think twice before buying fast fashion.

With constant production at low prices, the leading fashion industries have created an extremely lucrative business model but are highly aggressive with the environment. Clothes sold at affordable prices so that consumers can buy more in a short period, driven by micro-seasons imposed by the fashion industry itself, are known as “fast fashion”. These garments are generally ready to be replaced quickly, so they are medium to low quality.

Where is “Fast Fashion”?

It is enough to go through any shopping centre to find it. We are encouraged to spend every penny to be “in” and acquire a style that will make us stand out from all the rest. These companies offer added value and impose trends accessible to the majority of the public. And although this may seem harmless, behind this mechanic, there are important problems that you should consider.

We can start with the environmental impact that these companies are currently having. According to the magazine for the dissemination of science at UNAM, the fast fashion industry is responsible for 10% of global toxic gas emissions and the production of 20% of wastewater worldwide. In addition, 30% of plastic waste in the ocean comes from this industry.

Instead, the collapse of the Rana Plaza in 2013 (a textile factory in Bangladesh ) highlighted the terrible conditions in which the employees, most of whom are women, who make clothes for important international brands, work. Bangladesh is one of the most critical countries in the textile industry and is considered the primary source of employment for 161.4 million people.

The cheap labour that this country offers makes brands seek to produce their garments in this place. Thanks to this, they can sell at an affordable cost and maintain a very high-profit margin.

Fast fashion offers us unbeatable qualities; we can easily access it since we find it in practically any shopping centre, and it assures us that we will have “that” we were looking for. However, it is not easy to stop the consumption of an immediately accessible product.

What can we do to reduce our consumption of “Fast Fashion”?

If you want to reduce your fast fashion intake, you can start by recycling the clothes. You already have in your wardrobe, giving worn-looking pieces a second chance. And buying second-hand clothes. And if you are dying to buy something new. You can check the quality of the garment before purchasing. It to ensure that you will not end up discarding it before time. In addition, you can inquire about the brands you consume to find out. How they make their clothes and treat their employees.

It is not an informal process, but it is essential to think critically before purchasing a product. It is also necessary to support micro-entrepreneurs, to strengthen local businesses. Remember not to get carried away only by the dazzling discounts and shop responsibly.

Conclusion

Fast fashion is term use to describe a highly profitable. And exploitative business model based on replicating catwalk trends and high-fashion designs, mass-producing them at low cost. Often, this entails exploiting workers in inhumane conditions.